Once the ladybugs are caught, the scientific work begins. It involves identification, photography and confirmation of species.

"We send them off to Cornell to find out if they're invasive or native," Skyler says. "We might already know."

With the lessons of biodiversity, native and invasive ladybugs, crop protection and disease, Mr. Boston and his students agree, the ladybug project become much more than a standard textbook-driven science class.

"In other schools, they don't get to do this," student, Kadie Horton says. "I'm in school and I'm actually doing it."

The Lost Ladybug Project was established at Cornell 12 years ago.

For the past several years, Cornell has worked with elementary schools across the country to study all the different species of ladybugs.